Jun and Julia

In her memoir, My Life in France, Julia Child writes effervescently about how her love of French food sparked her fiery passion for cooking and teaching. She was 36 when she moved to France with her husband, Paul. She spoke no French, knew absolutely nothing about France and had no clue what she wanted to do with her life. I actually find myself in the same situation. No, I am not moving to France but there are days when I wonder if I really know what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Like Julia, I am in my mid-thirties and I am still discovering myself. But unlike her, I oftentimes get bogged down because I am too afraid. Too afraid of making decisions and standing by them. Too afraid of making mistakes and owning them. Too afraid of facing rejections and accepting them. No amount of rejection fazed Julia. She struggled to fit in at Le Cordon Bleu and she faced rejection right and left while trying to publish her now celebrated Mastering the Art of French Cooking. But Julia persevered. She pursued her passion and led a full life and enjoyed a rewarding career.

It may sound overly romantic but I want to try and pursue my own passion, whatever that passion may be. I guess that’s what I’m trying to figure out. I just need to stop being too afraid and start facing the omelet pan and start learning how to flip my own omelet. Life is too short to be always afraid.